Lunchtime project for automation and control engineers

This LeaveMeAloneBox is made of LEGOS. Making one of these (Legos or otherwise) might be a fun lunchtime project for automation and control engineers... before next Halloween? See video.

Paul F. Grayson

11/14/2010

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I saw one of these years ago, around Halloween, on the receptionist's desk at a company I was visiting. There it was, a tiny shiny black plastic box, not connected to anything. The unmarked toggle switch was inviting just anyone to flip the switch. The receptionist was pretending that she did not notice the torment that the presence of the box was causing each of us.

What was the purpose of this box? Why is the switch unmarked? Why is it sitting out where just anyone waiting in the lobby could flip the switch? Was it safe to do that? Who put it there? Is it a toy? Is it a Halloween prank? Who among us is bold enough to just flip the switch and see what happens?

While the debate continued in each of our heads, one among us stepped up to the receptionist’s desk and flipped the switch. She looked up from her work and smiled so it must have been OK. The box made the sound of a small high-speed motor and gear train at work, it rumbled a bit and then part of the box opened slowly and a plastic doll arm slowly reached out toward the switch. By that time we were all crowded around the machine watching it intently as the hand slowly returned the toggle switch to the off position... then suddenly snapped shut.

Since everything up until that point had been in slow motion, its sudden rapid movement and loud sound as it snapped shut startled all of us enough that we each made a small jump back from the machine.

Over the years, I have searched novelty shops for one of these and not found one.

Now through the wonder of the Internet I have discovered a wealth of information about "LeaveMeAloneBoxes.” Maybe you would be up to the challenge of building one of these yourself - to amaze and astound your friends and co-workers?

Ever see one of these? Send me a photo of yours, and some info, if you build one.

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This article collection contains several articles on how advancements in vision system designs, computing power, algorithms, optics, and communications are making machine vision more cost effective than ever before.

Programmable logic controllers (PLCs) represent the logic (decision) part of the control loop of sense, decide, and actuate. As we know, PLCs aren’t the only option for making decisions in a control loop, but they are likely why you’re here.